Heating structure for motor vehicle

Abstract

A heating structure (1) configured to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle is disclosed. The heating structure (1) includes at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer (4), this panel further comprising an electrode array (5) comprising a plurality of contact electrodes (6) arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heating structure configured to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the structure comprising a radiant panel comprising:
 at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer; 
 an electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer, 
 wherein the resistive layer is provided with a greater thickness, at least locally, than the thickness of at least some of the contact electrodes, such that the resistive layer at least partially covers the at least some of the contact electrodes, 
 wherein the thickness of the resistive layer which covers the contact electrode is between 20% of the thickness of the contact electrode and 100% or 50% of the thickness of said contact electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The heating structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the contact electrodes are formed on a substrate, and the thickness of these contact electrodes is measured in a direction locally perpendicular to said substrate, and the thickness of the resistive layer is also measured in a direction locally perpendicular to the substrate. 
     
     
       3. The heating structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the contact electrodes each comprise a face opposite the substrate, and the resistive layer completely covers said face opposite the substrate. 
     
     
       4. The heating structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode has a cross-section with a rectangular contour, and the resistive layer in the contact zone with said electrode has a shape which closely follows at least two perpendicular sides of the rectangular contour. 
     
     
       5. The heating structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrode array comprises distribution electrodes arranged so as to conduct electric current from an electrical source to the contact electrodes, several contact electrodes being connected to a same distribution electrode. 
     
     
       6. The heating structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resistive layer is a layer deposited on a substrate, by screen printing, this resistive layer extending between the two distribution electrodes associated with the group of contact electrodes. 
     
     
       7. A door of a motor vehicle comprising a heating structure configured to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the structure comprising a radiant panel comprising:
 at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer; 
 an electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer, 
 wherein the resistive layer is provided with a greater thickness, at least locally, than the thickness of at least some of the contact electrodes, such that the resistive layer at least partially covers the at least some of the contact electrodes, 
 wherein the thickness of the resistive layer which covers the contact electrode is between 20% of the thickness of the contact electrode and 100% or 50% of the thickness of said contact electrode. 
 
     
     
       8. A glovebox of a motor vehicle comprising a heating structure configured be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the structure comprising a radiant panel comprising:
 at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer; 
 an electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer, 
 wherein the resistive layer is provided with a greater thickness, at least locally, than the thickness of at least some of the contact electrodes, such that the resistive layer at least partially covers the at least some of the contact electrodes, 
 wherein the thickness of the resistive layer which covers the contact electrode is between 20% of the thickness of the contact electrode and 100% or 50% of the thickness of said contact electrode. 
 
     
     
       9. A heating structure configured to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the structure comprising a radiant panel comprising:
 at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer; 
 an electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer, 
 wherein the resistive layer is provided with a greater thickness than the thickness of the plurality of contact electrodes, such that the resistive layer at least partially covers the plurality of contact electrodes, 
 wherein the thickness of the resistive layer which covers the contact electrode is between 20% of the thickness of the contact electrode and 100% or 50% of the thickness of said contact electrode.